Gifford v. Freedom of Information Commission

Berdon, J.,

with whom

The issue before this court is whether incident reports prepared by the police are public records that come within the purview of General Statutes § 1-19 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act (act)1 and are therefore open for inspection and copying by the public, including the press. Specifically at issue is the police incident report2 prepared by a Windsor Locks police officer documenting the arrest of two teenagers involved in anti-Semitic and racist activities and the subsequent attempt by one of them to commit suicide. The majority, reading the act in a most…